FIRST-TIME PRO WINNER KELLETT EYES STEP UP TO CHALLENGE TOUR

Rookie Scottish pro Ross Kellett scored his first win as a professional on Saturday when he won the Alps Tour event, the Montecchia Open in Italy. Motherwell-based Kellett. 24,  had scores of 63, 70 and 68 for a 12-under-par total of 201. He won by two shots from Italian rookie Niccolo Quintarelli who had rounds of 66-70-67. Kellett made all the running in the 54-hole event, birdieing six of his last seven holes in the first round for an inward half of 30. That put him in the lead to stay. He had a two-stroke advantage going into the final round but said later he did not feel as though he was under pressure. "I know I can compete at this level and this proves it," he said. He had only one birdie on the outward half but was still two shots clear of the field with nine holes to play. Kellett, sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management, clinched this important first pro win with further birdies at the 10th and 15th. The first prize of 5,800 Euros boosted his winnings from 11 events to 16,107 Euros. This was his fifth top-10 finish. He is the second Scot to win on the Alps Tour this year, following in the footsteps of Aberdeen's David Law who won in Morocco.# QUOTES FROM KELLETT Kellett said today: "Saturday was a super day to end a super week. My 63 (-8) on Thursday, felt easy as I putted the best I ever have. "Friday was solid enough although not as good putting and in the final round, I played very solid, hitting 15 greens in regulation, which took the pressure off me in a way. "I have been playing solid for a while now but to put it all together in Italy was the key. I had only three bogeys over 54 holes all week which is always a plus. "Winning my first event proves to me I can compete at pro level and no one can take that away from me now. It's the first of many I hope. "I still have to remain focused to consolidate my top five  position in the Alps Tour Order of Merit for the end of the season, which will get me Challenge Tour category. "I would like to thank my sponsors also Aberdeen Asset Management and Adidas Taylormade golf for their continued support."   LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 213 (3x71) 201 Ross Kellett (Sco) 63 70 68 203 Niccolo Quintarelli (Ita) 66 70 67 204 Jason Palmer (Eng) 68 72 64, Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut) 66 69 69 205 Gareth Shaw (NIr) 72 69 64, Alessandro Grammatica (Ita) 65 71 69, Jean-Nicolas Billot (Fra) 67 68 70 206 Alessio Bruschi (Ita) 66 72 68, Tom Sherreard (Eng) 65 72 69, Stefano Pitoni (Ita) 68 68 70, Julie Foret (Fra) 65 70 71.